By Derick Tsimba

The Ambassador of the United States of America (USA) to Zimbabwe has been called to order following his controversial statements on the SADC Anti-Zimbabwe Sanctions Day on 25 October 2019, in which he contravened the acceptable diplomatic etiquette and lack of respect for Government of Zimbabwe.

In a press statement recently, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Sibusiso Moyo, said the USA Ambassador to Zimbabwe was abusing the hospitality of the people of Zimbabwe.

“The US Ambassador on the occasion of the SADC Anti-Zimbabwe Sanctions Day on, 25 October  exhibited a clear contravention of acceptable diplomatic etiquette, was grossly partisan in nature, and reflected not only a worrying lack of respect for the Host Government but also abusive of the hospitality of the people of Zimbabwe as a whole,” said Moyo.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs also said the US Ambassador was mistaken to think that Zimbabweans were weak, hence could be subjected to insults and abuse.

“Whilst we are welcoming, extremely tolerant and friendly people, it would be a mistake for these qualities to be misinterpreted by any diplomat to mean that we are weak or that we will simply ignore or tolerate any form of insults or abuse,” he said.

The Minister also said the US Ambassador was violating   International law functions which a diplomatic mission may exercise and those that it may not under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (Article3).

“The legal functions of a diplomatic mission permitted under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (Article 3) include, promoting friendly relations between the sending State and the receiving State, and developing their economic, cultural and scientific relations.

“It follows therefore, that the conduct of any diplomat which is openly inimical to the promotion of friendly relations is far removed from the core objectives of the Convention and cannot simply be ignored,” said the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The Harare Post has learnt that US Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Brian Nichols has adopted an abusive conduct with the Government of Zimbabwe disregarding diplomatic protocol. The Second Republic has since indicated that it intends to pursue a process of re-engagement with the international community. Such actions by the US Ambassador are at cross purpose with efforts by Government of Zimbabwe.